The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) has announced two high-ranking ministerial officials as speakers on the opening day of the 13th Annual GPCA Forum taking place at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

More than 2,000 senior industry leaders representing as many as 600 companies from nearly 50 nations will converge at the 13th Annual GPCA Forum to exchange best practices and examine growth strategies at a time of the 4thIndustrial Revolution, discuss case studies and take the necessary steps required to enhance their transformational journeys.

The event will further shed light on the advances and changes in the chemical industry and the increasingly important role it is playing in the region.

H.E. Raghavendra Rao will address the forum’s theme of “Executing Transformation and Investing in Growth”. He will provide depth and insight into global industrial opportunities in India, talk about regional growth prospects and outline the shift in customer preferences.

His addition to the forum agenda is especially significant as India is the second largest importer of GCC crude and accounts for at 16% of total chemical exports from the region. This makes for the second largest share after China. It is also one of the world’s fastest growing markets for refining and chemical products and accounts for a significant share of the global demand.

In its role as a key producer globally of crude oil, chemicals and petroleum products, the Arabian Gulf region continues to play a pivotal role in India’s energy security. Several new strategic partnerships were announced between the two regions recently. In June this year, Saudi Aramco and ADNOC in consortium with three Indian oil companies committed to the development of a USD 44 billion mega-refinery and petrochemicals complex in Ratnagiri, India.

Commenting on this special relationship Dr. Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, Secretary General of the GPCA, expressed his delight at the impressive lineup of speakers and said,“The Arabian Gulf region enjoys a long-standing relationship with India– one that is founded upon strategic ties aimed at advancing the country’s economic and social prosperity. As an important demand center for chemicals and petrochemicals, a demand that is set to remain steady for the future, India remains an important market for GCC producers, offering significant opportunities for closer cooperation and partnerships in the chemicals industry.”

“To have the minister open the forum is a matter of great pride and underscores the significance of the GPCA Annual Forum in our sector and the region as a whole. These august speakers will address the challenges and opportunities of executing transformation and set out the key imperatives to invest in growth,” he added.

Yousef Al-Benyan, Vice Chairman and CEO, SABIC and Chairman, GPCA, will deliver the welcome address, followed by Amin Nasser, President and CEO, Saudi Aramco, who will address the audience in a keynote address on day one.

Other exciting events on the agenda include a seminar on the Circular Economy and four masterclass sessions dedicated to Digitization – opportunities and challenges from introducing new technologies; Cybersecurity; Women in Industry; and ‘The global chemical industry in an era of protectionism’. Each is designed to provide delegates with an exclusive opportunity to gain insight into the latest challenges and trends facing the industry and the best way to address them.